An anonymous NBA scout recently expressed doubt about Bam Adebayo’s desire to be the primary offensive option for the Miami Heat. In an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Anthony Pasciolla, the scout suggested that Adebayo might prefer not to be the team’s go-to player.
During the 2023-24 regular season, Adebayo was arguably not even Miami’s second option on offense. He averaged 19.3 points per game, making him the team’s third-highest scorer, trailing behind Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro, who both averaged 20.8 points per game. Despite being the third option in terms of scoring, Adebayo played a crucial role in Miami’s offensive strategy, contributing not only with his scoring but also with his playmaking abilities.
Adebayo, a former University of Kentucky standout, had one of his best playmaking seasons last year, averaging 3.9 assists per game. This marked the third-highest assist average of his NBA career, with his career-best being 5.4 assists per game during the 2020-21 season.
However, Adebayo’s role shifted significantly during the 2024 NBA Playoffs when Jimmy Butler was sidelined with an MCL injury. With Butler out, Adebayo stepped up as Miami’s top offensive player. In the first-round series against the Boston Celtics, Adebayo led the team in scoring, averaging 22.6 points per game on 49.5 percent shooting. Tyler Herro, who was the second-leading scorer during that period, averaged 16.8 points per game but struggled with efficiency, shooting only 38.5 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from beyond the arc.
In addition to his scoring, Adebayo also excelled as a facilitator during the playoffs, averaging 3.8 assists per game, the second-highest on the team. Notably, he did so while keeping his turnovers low, committing just eight compared to Herro’s 14 turnovers, despite Herro averaging more assists at 5.4 per game.
While the scout’s comments imply that Adebayo may not be inclined to take on the role of the No. 1 option for the Heat, his performance in the playoffs suggests that he is capable of leading the team offensively when needed. The idea of Adebayo becoming the focal point of Miami’s offense is intriguing, especially considering his ability to impact the game not just as a scorer but also as a playmaker.
In summary, although Adebayo was the third scoring option during the regular season, his playoff performance demonstrated his potential to take on a larger offensive role, especially in the absence of key players like Butler. Whether or not he wants to be the primary option remains a topic of debate, but his contributions on the court make a strong case for his ability to lead when called upon.